1938–39 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1938–39 Tom Morgan(until March) Frank Huntbach Old Recreation Ground Football League Third Division South 18th (37 points) FA Cup Second Round(eliminated by Southend United) Football League Third Division South Cup Semi-finals(tournament cancelled) Tom Nolan (17) Tom Nolan (17) 12,521 vs. Cardiff City, 5 November 1938 3,482 vs. Clapton Orient, 6 May 1939 7,587 4–0 (twice) and 5–1 0–4 (twice) and 1–5 _white stripes _band_white ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 000000 1937–38 1939–40 The 1938–39 season was Port Vale's 33rd season of football in the English Football League, and their first ever season in the Third Division South, having switched from the Third Division North in summer 1938.Kent Jeff The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale Witan Books 1990 124–150 From Glory to Despair (1929–1939) 0-9508981-4-7 Under manager Tom Nolan and chairman Frank Huntbach, Vale played their home games at the Old Recreation Ground. They finished 18th in the 22‑team league with 37 points from 14 wins, 9 draws, and 19 losses, scoring 52 goals and conceding 58—safely clear of the re‑election zone but well adrift of promotion. Port Vale began the season by integrating several new signings – most notably goalkeeper Arthur Jepson, left-back George Collin, half-backs George Hannah and Sid Wileman, and winger John Callender – in an attempt to rebuild the starting lineup. Early results were poor, with three league defeats in the first four games, before a turnaround saw five straight home wins, including a 5–1 drubbing of Walsall and a 3–1 away victory over Exeter City. However, a winless run from November through to the New Year left them perilously close to the bottom. Their cup campaigns brought mixed fortunes. In the FA Cup, Vale beat Wrexham in the First Round before being eliminated by Second Division Southend United at home in the Second Round. In the ill-fated Third Division South Cup, Vale reached the semi‑final—defeating Walsall, Mansfield Town, and Ipswich Town – before the tournament was cancelled and all results voided due to financial and attendance issues. Forward Tom Nolan was the club's leading scorer, contributing 17 goals across all competitions amid a generally low-scoring campaign. Off the field, rising gate receipts by £659 were offset by a loss of £1,723 for the season, largely tied to costly transfers and the league switch. Despite spirited performances in the final matches – including a 2–0 win at champions Newport County – Vale finished in their lowest ever league position at the time, though they avoided re‑election by four points and set the groundwork for rebuilding heading into the war‑interrupted 1939–40 season. 200px|thumb|right|Frank Huntbach was chairman for the last peacetime season of his career. The club's longest-serving chairman, he had been in charge from 1913 to 1921 and 1926 to 1940. Overview Third Division South Port Vale were switched to the Third Division South from the Third Division North. The pre-season saw another reconstruction of the first XI, as eleven new signings arrived at the Old Recreation Ground, most notably: highly rated goalkeeper Arthur Jepson (Grantham Town); veteran left-back George Collin (Sunderland); right-half George Hannah (Derby County); left-half Sid Wileman (signed from Derby for 'a substantial fee'); and goalscoring winger John Callender (Lincoln City). Work at the stadium took place, as ground outside the stadium was prepared for car parking. The eclectic training schedule of the previous season was expanded, with bowls and cricket supplemented by games of tennis and baseball. Also on 20 August, a Football League Jubilee Fund match was played against nearby Crewe Alexandra, with the Vale picking up a 3–2 win, raising £243 in the process. The season began with George Heppell in goal, as Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club at first refused to allow Jepson to play. With three defeats in the first four games, most new men were dropped as Morgan struggled to find consistency in his picks. It took until the end of October for the team to get into their stride, as their 5–1 win over Walsall was their fifth consecutive home win. They also travelled to St James Park to record a 3–1 win over Exeter City – their first away win since September 1937. Nottinghamshire CCC seemed justified in initially refusing Jepson permission to play, as he played seventy minutes of the game with his right hand strapped up, having dislocated his fingers. Ken Fish was then sold to BSC Young Boys of Switzerland, having fallen out of favour. Yet, the directors refused to hear offers for the rest of the team, determined as they were to strengthen the team. Despite stylish play, especially from Alf Bellis, the club then went from Guy Fawkes Night to New Year's Eve without a victory, their five defeats taking them to just two points clear of the re-election zone. Ending their run with a 4–0 win over Bristol City, they lost Jack Roberts to a dislocated shoulder. Trying out new, young players in 1939, the club re-signed veteran forward Tommy Ward from Stoke City. The team were in a rut and picked up just one point from seven games. A 4–0 hammering at Fellows Park from bottom-placed Walsall left Vale third-from-bottom by March. Disgruntled supporters turned against the team, as regular barracking was directed at the players. Roberts and Jepson struggled with injuries, but by March, the newcomers had finally gelled as a group, and results soon picked up. Yet manager Tom Morgan shocked the club by leaving for the vacant position at Wrexham, leaving the club somewhat rudderless. Despite receiving a 4–0 beating from Notts County at Meadow Lane, the players rallied to produce four points from their last three games. Two of these points came from a 2–0 win over champions Newport County at Somerton Park, making Vale the only team to have recorded the double over "Ironsides" that season. They finished in 18th place with 37 points, then a club record low position. They were four points clear of having to petition for re-election, and 18 points short of promotion. Their 52 goals scored was a poor record, though a total of 58 goals conceded was much improved on the previous campaign. Nolan's 17 goals were the only major contribution in front of goal. Finances On the financial side, gate receipts had increased by £659. However, an overall loss was made of £1,723. The move to the southern division had cost a considerable amount in transfer fees, though home game income had improved by £676 to £6,403. Further financial worries were lessened by a transfer credit of £1,455. Despite the poor season, 17 players were kept on, though promising teenage midfielder John Smith was sold to Chelsea. Other departures included Harry Davies (retired); Leonard Smart; Tommy Ward (Mansfield Town); Arthur Caldwell; Arthur Masters; George Collin (Burton Town); Sid Wileman (Hinckley United); and John Callender (Gateshead). Cup competitions In the FA Cup, Vale overcame Wrexham of the Third Division North 2–1 at the Racecourse Ground. However, they crashed out at the second round, losing 1–0 at home to league rivals Southend United. For both matches the players had relaxed beforehand with activities such as golf, country walks, and games of snooker. In the short-lived Football League Third Division South Cup, the "Valiants" progressed to the semi-finals at the expense of Walsall (4–0), Mansfield Town (3–1), and Ipswich Town (2–0). In the semis, they came to a goalless stalemate with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road – the tournament was cancelled at this stage, and so no club would win it. The club had lost money in the much-maligned tournament, as atrocious attendances were not enough even to pay player bonuses. Port Vale and Queens Park Rangers protested in favour of cancelling the tournament due to the financial failure of the cup, and the Football League agreed with them to 'wash out' the competition. Results Football League Third Division South 1938–39 Football League League table Third Division South y PTV Results by matchday table b Round Ground H/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/A/A/H Result L/W/L/L/W/L/W/W/L/D/W/W/D/L/L/D/D/L/L/W/W/L/L/L/D/L/L/L/W/W/D/D/L/W/W/L/L/W/L/D/W/D Position 18/10/16/18/16/20/14/14/16/15/11/9/8/9/10/13/14/16/16/14/12/14/15/18/18/18/19/21/19/19/19/19/19/19/17/19/19/19/19/19/19/18 Points 0p/2p/2p/2p/4p/4p/6p/8p/8p/9p/11p/13p/14p/14p/14p/15p/16p/16p/16p/18p/20p/20p/20p/20p/21p/21p/21p/21p/23p/25p/26p/27p/27p/29p/31p/31p/31p/33p/33p/34p/36p/37p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1938–1939 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061217/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1938-1939/results 4 March 2016 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 27 August 1938 Port Vale 1–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-aldershot-27-august-1938-166784/ Aldershot Callender Old Recreation Ground Hanley 10,036 2 29 August 1938 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-newport-county-29-august-1938-166790/ Newport County O'Brien Roberts Hickman Old Recreation Ground Hanley 6,240 3 3 September 1938 Bristol City 5–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-city-v-port-vale-03-september-1938-166801/ Port Vale Nolan Ashton Gate Ashton Gate, Bristol 16,975 4 8 September 1938 Clapton Orient 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/leyton-orient-v-port-vale-08-september-1938-166820/ Port Vale Brisbane Road Leyton, East London 4,399 5 10 September 1938 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-crystal-palace-10-september-1938-166828/ Crystal Palace Nolan Old Recreation Ground Hanley 10,478 6 17 September 1938 Watford 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/watford-v-port-vale-17-september-1938-166846/ Port Vale Dunderdale Wipfler Vicarage Road Watford 9,503 7 24 September 1938 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-mansfield-town-24-september-1938-166853/ Mansfield Town Masters Bellis Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,100 8 1 October 1938 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-swindon-town-01-october-1938-166865/ Swindon Town Griffiths Roberts 80 Old Recreation Ground Hanley W.J. Lewington 10,082 9 8 October 1938 Torquay United 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/torquay-united-v-port-vale-08-october-1938-166878/ Port Vale Plainmoor Torquay 3,382 10 15 October 1938 Queens Park Rangers 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/queens-park-rangers-v-port-vale-15-october-1938-166887/ Port Vale Nolan Roberts Loftus Road Shepherd's Bush, West London 13,853 11 22 October 1938 Port Vale 5–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-walsall-22-october-1938-166898/ Walsall Davies Nolan Roberts Masters Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,593 12 29 October 1938 Exeter City 1–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/exeter-city-v-port-vale-29-october-1938-166906/ Port Vale Roberts Bellis St James Park Exeter G.T.Gould 6,885 13 5 November 1938 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-cardiff-city-05-november-1938-166920/ Cardiff City Nolan Jimmy Collins Old Recreation Ground Hanley 12,521 14 12 November 1938 Ipswich Town 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/ipswich-town-v-port-vale-12-november-1938-166929/ Port Vale Portman Road Ipswich 13,637 15 19 November 1938 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-reading-19-november-1938-166942/ Reading Old Recreation Ground Hanley 9,633 16 3 December 1938 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-brighton-and-hove-albion-03-december-1938-166953/ Brighton & Hove Albion Nolan Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,015 17 17 December 1938 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southend-united-17-december-1938-166966/ Southend United Masters Roberts Old Recreation Ground Hanley 4,209 18 26 December 1938 Northampton Town 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/northampton-town-v-port-vale-26-december-1938-166983/ Port Vale County Cricket Ground Northampton 4,734 19 27 December 1938 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-northampton-town-27-december-1938-166994/ Northampton Town Old Recreation Ground Hanley 10,717 20 31 December 1938 Port Vale 4–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bristol-city-31-december-1938-167004/ Bristol City Nolan Griffiths Roberts Old Recreation Ground Hanley 4,597 21 7 January 1939 Bristol Rovers 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-rovers-v-port-vale-07-january-1939-167010/ Port Vale Nolan Eastville Stadium Bristol 3,962 22 14 January 1939 Crystal Palace 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/crystal-palace-v-port-vale-14-january-1939-167020/ Port Vale Selhurst Park Selhurst, Croydon 13,773 23 21 January 1939 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-watford-21-january-1939-167034/ Watford Nolan Dunderdale Old Recreation Ground Hanley 5,204 24 28 January 1939 Mansfield Town 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/mansfield-town-v-port-vale-28-january-1939-167043/ Port Vale Carter Bungay Field Mill Mansfield 3,742 25 4 February 1939 Swindon Town 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/swindon-town-v-port-vale-04-february-1939-167059/ Port Vale Wilcockson 90 Ward 12 County Ground Swindon W.J. Lewington 8,823 26 11 February 1939 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-torquay-united-11-february-1939-167068/ Torquay United Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,064 27 18 February 1939 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-queens-park-rangers-18-february-1939-167081/ Queens Park Rangers Ward Old Recreation Ground Hanley 7,210 28 25 February 1939 Walsall 4–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-port-vale-25-february-1939-167095/ Port Vale Fellows Park Walsall 5,749 29 4 March 1939 Port Vale 3–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-exeter-city-04-march-1939-167103/ Exeter City Nolan Moreland Masters Old Recreation Ground Hanley W. Martin 6,240 30 11 March 1939 Cardiff City 2–4 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/cardiff-city-v-port-vale-11-march-1939-167111/ Port Vale Harry Egan Les Talbot Smart Ward Nolan Ninian Park Cardiff 9,145 31 15 March 1939 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/bournemouth-and-boscombe-athletic-v-port-vale-15-march-1939-167119/ Port Vale Ward Dean Court Bournemouth 3,243 32 18 March 1939 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-ipswich-town-18-march-1939-167127/ Ipswich Town Old Recreation Ground Hanley 6,361 33 25 March 1939 Reading 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/reading-v-port-vale-25-march-1939-167139/ Port Vale Moreland Elm Park Reading, Berkshire 5,079 34 1 April 1939 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bristol-rovers-01-april-1939-167150/ Bristol Rovers Nolan Smart Old Recreation Ground Hanley 5,634 35 7 April 1939 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-notts-county-07-april-1939-167161/ Notts County Smart og. Nolan Old Recreation Ground Hanley 9,658 36 8 April 1939 Brighton & Hove Albion 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/brighton-and-hove-albion-v-port-vale-08-april-1939-167166/ Port Vale Goldstone Ground Hove 7,807 37 10 April 1939 Notts County 4–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/notts-county-v-port-vale-10-april-1939-167182/ Port Vale Meadow Lane Nottingham 10,401 38 15 April 1939 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bournemouth-and-boscombe-athletic-15-april-1939-167195/ Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Nolan Moreland Old Recreation Ground Hanley 3,902 39 19 April 1939 Aldershot 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/aldershot-v-port-vale-19-april-1939-167202/ Port Vale Recreation Ground Aldershot 3,518 40 22 April 1939 Southend United 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/southend-united-v-port-vale-22-april-1939-167212/ Port Vale Southend Stadium Southend-on-Sea 4,239 41 29 April 1939 Newport County 0–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/newport-county-v-port-vale-29-april-1939-167226/ Port Vale Smart Bellis Somerton Park Newport, Wales 7,260 42 6 May 1939 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-leyton-orient-06-may-1939-167236/ Clapton Orient Nolan Old Recreation Ground Hanley 3,482 FA Cup 1938–39 FA Cup R1 26 November 1938 14:15 GMT Wrexham 1–2 W https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=6141 Port Vale Burditt 43 Roberts 15 74 Racecourse Ground Wrexham W. Heskine 5,000 R2 10 December 1938 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southend-united-10-december-1938-209046/ Southend United Old Recreation Ground Hanley 7,993 Third Division South Cup R1 26 September 1938 Port Vale 4–0 W Walsall Smith Masters Griffiths Davies Old Recreation Ground Hanley R2 13 February 1939 Port Vale 3–1 W Mansfield Town Ward Smith Old Recreation Ground Hanley R3 27 February 1939 Port Vale 2–0 W Ipswich Town Ward Masters Old Recreation Ground Hanley Semi-final 4 May 1939 Queens Park Rangers 0–0 D Port Vale Loftus Road Shepherd's Bush, West London 300 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward Third Division South FA Cup Third Division South Cup GK ENG George Heppell 3 0 0 0 0 0 GK ENG Arthur Jepson 39 0 2 0 4 0 FB ENG Tom Clark 0 0 0 0 0 0 FB ENG Roy Felton 10 0 0 0 2 0 FB ENG Johnny Rowe 35 0 2 0 3 0 FB ENG Roger Whittle 4 0 0 0 0 0 HB ENG Bill Booth 9 0 0 0 1 0 HB ENG Harry Griffiths 33 2 2 0 2 1 HB ENG George Hannah 42 0 2 0 4 0 HB ENG Wilf Smith 37 0 2 0 1 0 HB ENG Tommy Ward 12 4 0 0 3 3 HB ENG Sid Wileman 4 0 1 0 1 0 FW ENG Alf Bellis 26 3 2 0 3 0 FW ENG Arthur Caldwell 4 0 0 0 2 0 FW ENG Arthur Cumberlidge 35 0 2 0 4 0 FW ENG Arthur Masters 33 5 2 0 2 2 FW ENG Geoffrey Moreland 7 3 0 0 2 0 FW ENG Tom Nolan 39 17 2 0 0 0 FW ENG Jack Roberts 20 8 1 2 0 0 FW ENG John Sanderson 1 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Leonard Smart 13 5 0 0 0 0 FW ENG John Smith 13 0 1 0 3 2 FW ENG Don Triner 3 0 0 0 1 0 FW ENG Joe Wheatley 2 0 0 0 1 0 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: FB ENG George Collin 1 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG John Callender 3 1 0 0 1 0 FW ENG Harry Davies 29 2 1 0 4 1 FW RSA 1928 Ken Fish 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Richard Fuller 1 0 0 0 0 0 FW SCO William O'Brien 4 1 0 0 0 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameThird Division NorthFA CupSouthern CupTotal1FWEnglandTom Nolan1700172FWEnglandJack Roberts820103FWEnglandArthur Masters5027–HBEnglandTommy Ward40375FWEnglandLeonard Smart50056FWEnglandGeoffrey Moreland3003–FWEnglandAlf Bellis3003–FWEnglandHarry Davies2013–HBEnglandHarry Griffiths201310FWEnglandJohn Smith002211FWEnglandJohn Callender1001–FWScotlandWilliam O'Brien1001–––Own goals1001TOTALS522961 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. May 1938 FW ENG John Callender Lincoln City Free transfer Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 May 1938 FW ENG Richard Fuller Stockport County Free transfer May 1938 FW SCO William O'Brien Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Free transfer June 1938 FB ENG George Collin Sunderland Free transfer June 1938 FB ENG Roy Felton Everton Free transfer June 1938 HB ENG George Hannah Derby County Free transfer June 1938 GK ENG Arthur Jepson Grantham Town Free transfer June 1938 FW ENG John Sanderson Newcastle United Free transfer June 1938 HB ENG Sid Wileman Derby County 'Substantial' November 1938 FW ENG Geoffrey Moreland Birmingham Free transfer December 1938 FW ENG Don Triner Downing's Tileries Free transfer February 1939 HB ENG Bill Booth Wolverhampton Wanderers Free transfer February 1939 HB ENG Tommy Ward Stoke City Free transfer March 1939 FW Leonard Smart Wolverhampton Wanderers Free transfer Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. October 1938 FW RSA 1928 Ken Fish SWI Young Boys Free transfer April 1939 FW ENG John Callender Gateshead Free transfer April 1939 FB ENG George Collin Burton Town Free transfer April 1939 FW ENG Harry Davies Retired April 1939 FW ENG Richard Fuller Darlington Free transfer April 1939 FW SCO William O'Brien Watford Free transfer May 1939 FW ENG John Smith Chelsea Free transfer June 1939 HB ENG Tommy Ward Mansfield Town Free transfer August 1938 HB ENG Sid Wileman Hinckley United Free transfer Summer 1939 HB ENG Bill Booth Cardiff City Free transfer Summer 1939 FW ENG Arthur Masters Released References Specific General Kent Jeff The Port Vale Record 1879-1993 Witan Books 1993 0-9508981-9-8 Category:Port Vale F.C. seasons Port Vale